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Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

D. E. DAY. 'TREATMENT OF SHALES AND COALS.

AP LICATION FiLED MAR. 4, I918 m agamo UNITED STATE% DAVID E. DAY, OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TREATMENT OF SHALES AND GOALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

lation process and apparatus for treating such material.

, The invention provides for the generation of gases of combustion,substantially devoid'of oxygen, and the treatment of the oil bearingmaterial with the hot gases to effect the distillation of the oil. Theprocess involves'the agitation of the shale during the heat treatment ina particular type of retort or still and includes also the treatment ofthe material in the presence of steam.

The invention makes it possible to dis- .pense with the heating of theexterior of the apparatus andthus avoids the trouble incident to the useof such apparatus and the resultant coking of the interior of thetreatment chamber and the expense incidental to the deterioration ofthat structure. The invention also makes it possible to use highertemperatures for the treatment of the shale than were possible from theuse of steam alone or with the application of external heat to thecontainer. The present process by mingling the hot gases in directcontact with the particles of shale containing the oil provides for amaximum elliciency for a given amount of heat.

The invention also provides for the generation of the gases ofcombustion in one chamber and the introduction of these gases ofcombustion .into a second chamber in which the shale undergoes acontinuous agitating treatment.

The above features together with other details of the invention aredescribed and claimed in the following specification and claims andillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is anelevation, partly in section, representing diagrammatically the chamberfor the production of the gases of combustion and the position of theagitator members within the main retort.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 indicating. thestaggered and spiral arrangement of the agitator arms within the retort.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates the outer casing of amain cylindrical retort which is shown as slightly inclined tofacilitate the movement of material through the same. The retort 1 issupported by suitable posts or walls 2 which may be of any suitablefire-proof material. The retort 1 is lined on its interior with firebrick 3 to protect the metal casing from deterioration. A central axialshaft 4 extends the length of the retort l and is journaled in the endsof the retort. Agitator arms 5 are secured rigidly to the shaft 4 andare provided at their extremities with blades 5 which are designed topass in close proximity to the fire brick and inner surface of theretort. The agitator arms 5 are positioned in staggered relation on theshaft 4 and provide an interrupted spiral arrangement which has animportant function in agitatingthe shale and passing the same throughthe retort. On one .quantities of the shale and to substantially closethe inlet passage 9. The valve 10 may be of any suitable construction solong as it accomplishes the results indicated as de= sired. Meansforoperating the valve 10 is indicated by a drive pulley 11 connected by abelt 12 with a pulley 13 secured to the shaft 4. It is not necessarythat the valve operating mechanism be directly connected to the shaft 4,but it is important that the speed of rotation of the valve 10 be in afixed ratio with the capacity of the retort, that is, the speed of thematerial through the retort. An outlet valve for the retort is providedby the downwardly projecting part 14 having a rotary valve 15illustrated as of similar construction to the valve 10.

A drive pulley 15 is indicated as provided to operate at a particulartime with respect to the pulley 11.

.A cylindrical chamber 16 is provlded for the generation of the gases ofcombustion and suitable fire-proof supports are indicated at 17. Withinthe chamber 16 is a combustion nozzle 18 to which there is connected anoil or gas pipe 19 and air pipe 20.

The oil or gas is ignited at the nozzle 18 and is provided withsufficient oxygen to burn by means of the adjustment of a valve in thepipe 20. A powerful flame may be thus provided within the combustionchamber 16 and the gases passing from the combustion chamber aredirected through the large pipes 21 from the top of thecombustion'chamber 16 to a manifold 22 positioned approximatelyalongside of the main retort 1 and on a levelwith the shaft 4, that ismidway of the height of the retort. The gases are conducted from themanifold 22 through the intake pipes 23 into the interior of the retortWhere they mingle with the shale which is undergoing agitation.

Thesupply of steamis provided by a pipe system which includes a water orsteam pipe 2 1 connected to a coil 25 which is positioned within thecombustion chamber for the production of steam or the superheating ofsteam. Leading from the coil 25 is a pipe 26 which terminates within thelower end of the shaft 4 which'is provided with a hollow central borefor at least a portion of its length. Steam discharged from the pipe 26passes from the shaft 4 through the openings 27 and together with thegases of combustion assist in the treatment of the shale.

Outlet passages for the vapors and the gases are indicated'at 28 in thetop of the retort 1 and upwardly extending pipes 29 are connected to acommon manifold 30.-

It is preferable that this manifold 30 be slightly inclined so that anyproducts which may condense will run downwardly through the pipes 29 andback into the retort for further treatment. a

In the operation of the process, the material containing thehydrocarbon. oil which is to be distilled is introduced into the upperend of the retort 1 at which point the temperature may be possibly 300F. and upward. The direction of rotation of the shaft 4 causes the arms5 and the blades 5* to. impel the shale toward the lower end of thestructure and at the same time to thoroughly agitate and mix the shaleso that the gases of combustion and the steam may have free access toevery particle of shale. It is desirable that the material conveyed bythe member 7 be treated in a crusher so that it will come to the retortin substantially a granular condition and will be of such a mesh thata-ll parts may be readily treated, by the gases of combustion and steam.The temperature at the outlet end of the retort will be at least 1000 F.and possibly 1500 F. The steam entering the retort through the openings27 will probably be ata temperature of 1000 F. The gases of combustionare substantially extinguished flame and may have temperatures rangingfrom 800 F. to 3000 F. at their point of entry into the retort 1. Thepossibilities of treating shale containing the desired hydrocarbons canbe readily appreciated when such temperatures mav be safely used. Bythis direct contact treatment of the hot gases on the materials to bedistilled it is evident that unusual results can bustion into a secondchamber, subjecting the material containing the desired hydrocarbonmaterial within said second chamber to an agitating traveling movementfrom the entry end to the discharge end of said sec- 0nd chamber and toa heat treatment by I contact with said gases to drive off the desiredhydro-carbon material, and introducing steam into the middle ofsaid'second chamber during said agitating traveling movement.

2. The process of extracting hvdrocarbon oil material from oil, bearingshale which cpnsists of generating hot gases of combustion substantiallydevoid of oxygen in one chamber, introducing said hot gases ofcombustion into a second chamber, subjecting the material containing thedesired hydrocarbon material within said second chamber to an agitatingtraveling movement from the entry end to the discharge end of saidsecond chamber and to a heat treatment of at least 1000 F. by contactwith said gases to drive off the desired hydrocarbon material, andintroducing steam into the middle of said second chamber during saidagitating traveling movement.

DAVID E. DAY.

